It’s Never Too Late to Find Your Song

Local Musician Rich Bratten Is Discovering the Power of Playing With Purpose

When Rich Bratten steps behind a microphone with a guitar in his hands, audiences hear the familiar sounds of classic country and rock. They may hear a George Strait favorite, an Alan Jackson song or something from Eric Clapton, Lynyrd Skynyrd or Dwight Yoakam.

What they may not realize is how recently Bratten found the courage to share his music publicly or how much patience, preparation and personal growth brought him to that stage.

Bratten did not grow up taking formal guitar lessons or dreaming of becoming a professional musician. In fact, he did not purchase his first guitar until he was 37 years old.

“I always enjoyed music,” Bratten said. “I would occasionally borrow other people’s guitars if I saw one sitting in the corner. It was kind of a refuge for me.”

He would quietly experiment with a piano or guitar, attempting to pick out songs by ear in the privacy of his bedroom. Music was present in his life, but for many years, it remained something personal.

That began to change in 2000 when Bratten and his wife, Laurie, became involved with a new church plant. The young congregation needed people willing to serve in several areas, including its worship team.

Bratten knew a few basic “cowboy chords,” so he purchased a guitar and decided to help. That guitar, which he affectionately calls Old Faithful, is still the instrument he plays today.

The beginning was not glamorous.

“I thought I was really bad, which I probably was,” Bratten recalled with a laugh. “But I powered through it.”

That willingness to continue, even while feeling inadequate, became an important part of his musical journey.

After stepping away from church music for a time, Bratten eventually auditioned for the worship team at a congregation of approximately 3,000 people. The church worked with highly skilled and professional musicians, creating an environment that challenged him to improve.

Bratten made the team.

As an acoustic rhythm guitarist, he took his responsibility seriously. He practiced his parts carefully because he knew the musicians around him were performing at a high level.

The experience taught him that technical ability is important, but it is not the final destination.

“Once you can get to that point of competency, then you can relax,” he explained. “You can actually be in the moment.”

Today, that freedom allows Bratten to do more than simply play the correct notes. He can communicate through the music, connect with the audience and enjoy what is happening in the room.

Finding the Courage to Perform

Although Bratten had years of experience playing in worship settings, performing alone in front of a public audience was another challenge entirely.

He attended open-mic nights for nearly a year before finally gathering the courage to step onto the stage at Luminous Brewhouse approximately four years ago.

Since then, things have steadily grown.

Bratten has now been performing publicly for about three years, becoming an increasingly familiar musician at local restaurants, community events, benefits and gatherings throughout the area.

His song selection is part of what audiences appreciate. Bratten gravitates toward classic country artists such as George Strait, Alan Jackson, Randy Travis and Dwight Yoakam, along with classic-rock favorites from Eric Clapton, The Who, Lynyrd Skynyrd and others.

As a guitarist, he is especially influenced by musicians who use the instrument to tell an emotional story.

He points to players such as David Gilmour of Pink Floyd, Mark Knopfler, Eric Clapton and Carlos Santana, artists whose solos are remembered not simply because they are technically impressive, but because they communicate something.

“It’s not just about blazing chops,” Bratten said. “It’s about communicating an emotional story through your playing.”

That philosophy can be heard in Bratten’s own performances. His goal is not to overpower a room or make every moment about the person holding the guitar. His goal is to understand the setting and serve the people who are there.

Respecting the Audience

Bratten believes a successful performance begins long before the first song.

“The first step is preparation,” he said. “I take a gig seriously.”

Before arriving, he considers the kind of venue, the reason people are gathering and what role the music should play.

At a restaurant, the audience may be there primarily to eat, visit and enjoy the company of friends. In that environment, Bratten understands that his responsibility may be to create a welcoming atmosphere without becoming a distraction.

At a dance or community celebration, the audience may be looking for upbeat and familiar songs that bring people to their feet.

“It’s not about me,” he said.

Bratten prepares set lists for each performance, along with alternate musical directions he can follow based on the audience’s response. He may shift between faster and slower country songs or move toward classic rock depending on what seems to connect.

Sometimes the signs are subtle, a tapping foot, a nod of the head, a smile or a thumbs-up from across the room.

He pays attention.

“I would rather respect the audience and prepare for who I think is going to be there,” he said.

That respect is one of the qualities helping Bratten develop a loyal local following. He is not simply working through a list of songs. He is listening to the room and creating an experience with the people in it.

Music as a Way to Serve

For Bratten, music has also become a way to serve the wider community.

He has volunteered his time leading worship for Celebrate Recovery and chapel services, working with veterans and offering music lessons. He has also explored ways music can help veterans and first responders dealing with the effects of traumatic experiences.

Music can give someone a healthy point of focus, a new way to communicate or an outlet for emotions that may be difficult to express through ordinary conversation.

Whether someone wants to write a song, learn a favorite piece of music or simply sit alone and play a guitar, Bratten believes the process can be meaningful.

He also understands what it feels like to be uncomfortable walking into a room filled with strangers.

“I’m an introvert,” he said. “I don’t like going into a room full of strangers and trying to make conversation.”

The guitar helps create a bridge.

Rather than trying to force a connection, Bratten can sit down, begin playing and allow the music to open the door.

“I can make somebody’s day a little better by playing some music,” he said.

His desire to serve is also deeply connected to his faith, which Bratten said directs everything he does. To him, faith means living in community, building relationships, remaining approachable and using what he has been given to benefit others.

“We’re given certain gifts, abilities and talents,” he said. “I feel like it’s important to use them and see what comes out of it.”

The Only Person Who Plays Like You

Perhaps the most powerful part of Bratten’s story is what it says to people who believe they waited too long to begin.

He bought his first guitar at 37. He did not perform at his first public open mic until decades later.

His message is simple:

“It is never too late.”

Bratten also understands the fear of not being good enough. His awareness of highly accomplished musicians once made him focus on everything he could not do.

Eventually, however, he came to a realization that changed the way he viewed performing.

“I am the only person on this planet who plays like I do and who sings like I do,” he said.

“That makes me unique. It means I have a unique voice.”

That does not mean everyone will connect with every musician. Some people will appreciate a particular voice or style, while others will not.

Bratten has learned to be comfortable with that.

“I just need to go out and be authentic,” he said. “I’m the only person who can bring me to the world, for better or worse.”

When a performer becomes comfortable with who they are, Bratten believes the audience becomes more comfortable as well. Mistakes no longer have to ruin a performance. The goal is not perfection, it is connection.

“Most audiences are cheering for you to do well,” he said. “Nobody comes wanting a person to fail. I’m there for them to have a good time.”

His advice to musicians who are still hiding their talent is straightforward:

“Go be authentic. Go do it. And have fun with it.”

More Music Ahead

Bratten is already thinking about what may come next.

One goal is to spend time in a professional recording studio and produce legitimate recordings of his music.

He has also considered forming a high-quality, classic-country band focused on familiar songs people know, love and can dance to. The idea would be to bring together a select group of serious musicians for several regional performances each year.

The concept is still developing, but Bratten already has ideas for a name, a theme and the kind of experience the band could create.

Whether those plans happen next year or further down the road, Bratten’s journey has already become an encouraging reminder that meaningful pursuits do not come with an expiration date.

Sometimes a gift remains quiet for years before it is ready to be shared.

Sometimes courage begins with borrowing a guitar from the corner of a room.

And sometimes a man buys his first guitar at 37, calls it Old Faithful and eventually discovers that the music he once played alone may be exactly what brings a community together.

Upcoming Rich Bratten Performances in Story

Saturday, August 22

6:00–10:00 p.m.

Everett’s Tunnel Inn

Saturday, August 29

6:00–10:00 p.m.

Everett’s Tunnel Inn

To contact Rich Bratten or inquire about booking him for an event, visit his Facebook page and send him a message.